Members of Explore Park's governing board Tuesday heard reassurances that developer Larry Vander Maten appears to be on track to exercise his 50-year lease on the 1,100-acre site next June, but they still want to come up with a "Plan B" just in case he doesn't.

Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority board chairman Fred Anderson said that Vander Maten "has not indicated to me in any way, shape or form that June 30 [his option deadline in 2008] will not happen as planned.

"The fact that he has people on site every week doing something indicates that June 30 is going to occur."

Vander Maten, a Florida-based entrepreneur, has spent the past two years looking into ways to convert the park into a year-round, overnight, family-vacation destination.

"But," Anderson continued, "there may be things that could cause him to walk away that we do not know about."

Consequently, "We have to have a Plan B in place."

That includes deciding whether and how to ask the legislature for additional funding next year, should that be necessary. "If we don't do anything, then come June next year and nothing happens, we'll be left holding the bag."

Other board members suggested that the staff prepare a pared-down operations plan as a contingency, and others talked about finding additional funds elsewhere.

Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, a member of the board, agreed that contingency planning was necessary.

Should the Vander Maten deal -- a 50-year lease that obligates him to spend at least $20 million on the park -- not happen, "What is the state going to do with the facility?" Ware asked. "I can tell you I don't think they want to take over and run it."

He encouraged his fellow board members and staff to "decide what we want to be" if the deal falls through -- a continuation of the current model, or "a theme park, trying to get people here for a four-day weekend?

"Until we decide that, it will be impossible for me in the General Assembly and on the appropriations committee to figure out what funding to seek."

Debbie Pitts, the park's executive director, pointed out that "there are just as many questions if the [Vander Maten] plan comes to fruition."

"The staff has been working diligently for the last year on a transition plan," she said. "It's a work in progress and not complete, but we've addressed lots of contingencies and those options can be presented to you with a 'Plan B.' ... If the board is ready, at the next meeting, staff can start presenting some of those options for you to consider."

Pitts pointed out that 12 months "is not long when you are beginning to phase down. We are already in that process," limiting the terms of contracts and not filling nonessential positions with full-time staff.

Among the decisions the board must make, Pitts said, are "what to do with our inventory. How to store the records that the law requires us to maintain. We have a whole laundry list to present to you."

And Pitts noted that Vander Maten has not presented "a firm proposal on how he proceeds to take possession."

In other business, the board heard from finance director Glendine Williams, who said the current financial condition of the park is good. "We expect to finish the year in the black," without having to dip into the $50,000 the park carried over from last year. The park has an operating budget of $760,000.

Admissions "are down a little" -- based in large part on $3-a-gallon gasoline prices -- "but we expect to reach what we budgeted," Williams said.

Keeping the park inside its constantly shrinking operating budgets over the past few years has been a major feat, Anderson said, largely attributable to Pitts' leadership.

That brought a round of applause from the rest of the board.